Michail Kyriazanos Question

[lostandfound]

Any of you guys have one or more of his pipes? I'm also wondering if his age/lack of experience in carving pipes has deterred any of you from purchasing one, or having a commission done. His pipes exude a classic elegance that is unmatched, in my opinion, and if the mechanics of a great smoking pipe are as important to him as he claims on his website, then I have to believe they are top-notch smokers, and not just asthetically pleasing, and most of his pipes come in at under $400- and that's through a retailer.
Someone please enlighten me.

 

[pitchfork]

Don't own one, but came close to buying one a couple of times. I agree, his pipes are great renditions of the classics. If you like that style, you should also check out Chris Asteriou's pipes -- his billiards, liverpools and authors are like Comoy shapes, but with slightly exaggerated proportions (slimmer on the billiards/lovats, fatter on the authors/rhodesians).

 

[seacaptain]

I bought one. USP says "out for delivery" this morning. 8)

 

[misterlowercase]

I don't own one, but I recently had a very similar dilemma with a Martelo pipe.
I saw this pipe and flipped my lid over it, but I thought it was overpriced and the carver is totally unknown to me, I've been working like crazy the last few months and typically only have online access when I'm at home on Sundays - I told myself I'd wait a couple of weeks hoping that someone would buy it and put me out of my misery, but it sat there for 2 or 3 weeks unsold and finally one Sunday I pulled the damn trigger!
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/Martelo/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=169061
14 grams + great blast + elegant pencil shank = irresistible!
Sometimes you gotta just bite the bullet and find out for yourself when it comes to newer makers.

I did do a little digging and read a bit about him and looked through his gallery on facebook and finally came to the conclusion that I should just get the damn pipe because I was kinda obsessed with it LOL
It turned out to be a good purchase and I'm extremely happy with it - and it also solidified the fact that Smoking Pipes thoroughly scrutinizes the work of each maker they represent and wouldn't carry any maker they thought wasn't ready for prime time...

::

 

[elpfeife]

I saw a Martelo that had the same effect on me. I waited and someone put me out of my misery. Now I am disappointed I didn't buy it!

 

[seacaptain]

UPS guy came and well, darn. The pipe is absolutely beautiful, but I was surprised at how much smaller it is than my Dunhill group 3 prince. This pipe would correspond, I guess, to a group 1.
Yeah, I know, the measurements were in the description. I knew it would be a little smaller but I really wasn't expecting it to look half the size of the Dunhill. I guess the newby learning curve is greater than I thought.
I'm probably going to return it, it just seems way too small in my hand. It's too bad, the pipe is absolutely beautiful. I guess I'll think it over for a couple of days.
Here's the link if you want to see what it looks like.
https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/Michail-Kyriazanos/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=170600

 

[misterlowercase]

Group 1 pipes are great for smoking strong stout baccy!
The Bowl Height/Chamber Depth were the critical indicators in the descrip to gauge the size.
Let us know how it goes if you decide to keep it!

::

 

[seacaptain]

It's boxed up and going back tomorrow. It's just too small to fit my hand comfortably. I'm really disappointed, this is such a beautiful pipe.

 

[monty55]

Wow, misterlowercase, that pipe is just about perfect! I wouldn't blame you a bit for falling all over yourself to justify that buy.
lostandfound, I do not have any of his pipes, but I sure like what I see and understand the attraction!

 

[cigrmaster]

lost, i have to be honest with you, I am not a big fan of the pipes I see in his gallery. His shaping does nothing for me and his use of plateau really turns me off. I am not a fan of pipes that have plateau anywhere but on the top. When I see plateau all over the pipe, it just turns me off. I remember when our pipe maker Zack tried using plateau in different places I told himm that it loked like he was just rying to save a block of briar and that he was being lazy. He and I would go back and forth about it but he finally came around to my thinking. He does have a few pipes with some decent blasts, but more often than not his blasts are a bit weak.
Please do not be offended at my comments, but I am coming from this as a consumer of American artisan pipes, and there is not one that I would consider buying.

 

[spartanfan]

I can't add any info on Kyrianzanos pipes. However, thanks to this thread I learned about Martelo pipes. Very interesting stuff.

 

[saltedplug]

My buying habits for ~$300 for a new pipe fit with his pricing. Variations on the classics, just fine. However the chance to buy just now means that I will visit Paros Island sooner than order up one of his pipes.

 

[michail]

Hello guys, I found this topic yesterday and I wanted to post a few things about my work.
lostandfound thank you for apreciating my work. I like to consinder my self as a designer not an artist, simply because pipemaking has to do with a funtional item, so I always take care of my pipes mechanics. To me a pipe is getting more beautiful ot it's owner if it smokes good.
seacaptain thank you for purchasing the prince, I'm really sorry that the size didn't work for you. I'm trying to revive the original style of the Loewe's -the company that designed the prince shape- which were a little smaller than group3, so most of the prince pipes that I'm making are group1 and group2.
4nogginsmike You're welcome to visit my workshop anytime you want, I had a couple of guys that visited me during 2014 and we had great time. I met a lot of makers in Chicago this year and some will visit me.

Since I got back from Chicago I'm consindering visiting workshops, clubs and tobacco shops in US sometime in a trip.
Thank you all,

Michail

 

[newbroom]

Hi Michail! I post a link here to an interview you gave to R. Bear Graves to help readers see that you are a committed pipe craftsman and artisan.

http://pipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kyriazanos

I didn't provide the spelling.

 

[seacaptain]

seacaptain thank you for purchasing the prince, I'm really sorry that the size didn't work for you. I'm trying to revive the original style of the Loewe's -the company that designed the prince shape- which were a little smaller than group3, so most of the prince pipes that I'm making are group1 and group2.

Thanks for taking the time to reply in this thread. If you ever make a group 3/4 pipe identical to the one I returned, I'd buy that in a heartbeat.

 

[shaneireland]

I just wanted to add that I picked up my first Kyriazanos pipe a few months back. It was actually a double-first for me-- my first pipe from Michail, and my first pipe made of Strawberry wood.
Frankly, it's an incredible little pipe. The stem work and shaping are excellent. It smokes very well and I consider it one of the best purchases I have made in quite some time. The quality to value ratio is such that I already have my eye out for my second Kyriazanos pipe.
Thanks, Michail!

 

[chalbach72]

I've seen them on smokingpipes, and they certainly look like excellent pipes! Especially for the price

 

[mranglophile]

I just contacted Michail on commissioning me a 7 day set over the next 3 years. I figure I can afford about 3 pipes per year at his prices ( very reasonable). The first will be a blasted Billiard with a silver band (so far). I have always wanted a 7 day set and am liquidating a lot of my pipes to make it happen. Can't wait, will post updates.

 

[seacaptain]

Sounds nice, post up the pics when you can!